Wonderful exhibition opening

This was the best opening ever. Christopher Barran came and sang for me and to me; he is the type of singer who sings directly to everyone in the audience imparting everyone to feel special and loved. Thank you my dear sweet friend, you made my day and everyone else's. 

As the show was being hung friday morning people were coming in off the street wanting to meet the artist and were ecstatic about the work. Wow! Fantastic! It thrilled me to the core.
On saturday the place was busy, many people coming and going. We arrived a little after one and people were already coming through to view the paintings so I was busy from then till almost 6 pm. I loved it. In the past I have been wiped out after openings but this was so different and so refreshing I was tired and hungry yet still strong after. The most wonderful and amazing is that people of all ages were enjoying the artwork, commenting that they were full of life and movement. I feel so confirmed and pleased that what I was working towards is being achieved. All those hundreds of hours on the road in pursuit of birds, watching, studying and photographing them is paying off. Wow!

 Wonderful fantastic musician Christopher Barran who sings with heart and soul. 

He's my Muse!

The painting behind him to the left is three by four feet. The largest I have ever painted and now I'm working on ideas for doing another large painting. I hope to have at least one more this size for the exhibition at Kerry Wood Nature Center which goes up June 24th.

Wonderful fantastic art supporters and friends.

 Sharon is drawing Christopher while he sings, she is amazing and fast, she completed two portraits of him while he sang. 

Dear friends whom I don't get to see often enough. If I could smile any larger I would have swallowed my head, I am so happy with how the whole event turned out. Thank you all who came and supported my art and Christopher's song. I love you all.

Emmaus Group Opening at The House Sanctuary, Calgary Alberta

The spread for the opening was bountiful, there were a few hungry who came in off the street who were able to fill the empty spot with great food provided by the group, songs that moved listeners to tears sung by Naomi, and paintings to soothe the eye and soul. All in all one of the most moving openings I have attended.

The House is an outreach cafe run by the Alliance Church and I have to say that Pastor Derrik and the staff have accomplished well being in the community of Kensington and have helped street people regain their dignity and worth. It's wonderful when lives can be altered by a few kind words, or a cup of coffee and a wee bit of help.

I was inspired to photograph the exhibition book, and a dear friend took a snap of me with my painting. I love that the EXIT sign is boldly noticeable, just one quirky thought in how the exhibition title is "From Death to Life". I would have liked to show the exhibition but I forgot to ask artists permission to use their art on my blog.

We spent the weekend with my son, his lady and my soon to be born grandson, I am so excited to be a Kookum soon.

Heading north it was wonderful to spot migrating eagles. Saw 6 eagles and 2 hawks, which of course I had to have my trusty chauffeur stop so I could photograph them, its a good thing the man has a lot of patience.

I believe this is a Rough Legged Hawk.

Had to share this one of the Eagle cresting the tree-line. I find watching raptors to be exhilarating. I read that the term raptor comes from latin, literally meaning seized, given I presume with regards to how hawks catch their prey. Eagles on the other hand are also opportunistic scavenger birds who clean up the riverbanks during spawn and roadside dead. We saw an eagle scavenging dead cows in a farm field along with crows and ravens and further on we saw two eagles on a roadside deer carcass. On the opposite side of the highway two hawks were skillfully flying on the spot, which I call sky dancing, as they searched for prey below.

Blessing of Creation

This painting is one of three of mine that are being shown at "The House Coffee Sanctuary" in Kensington for Calgary Stampede. Emmaus Art Group has the walls of the coffee shop filled. Go and view the wonderful art that the group has hung for your enjoyment, quality works are for sale. Each month there is a new showing at "The House," drop by often to refresh your soul.

Its an exciting time for me as I feel I have gained focus with my painting. Bright jolts of color accented with realist birds and animals. It seems the more time I spent out in the environment the more in-tuned I become to the abundant variations of color, eye-candy for the soul. Creation has gifted us much to enjoy, lets work together to keep it flourishing.